Pacific FC–Vancouver FC rivalry

Pacific FC are an inaugural member of the Canadian Premier League, and played their first season in 2019. Despite having developed small and/or temporary rivalries with Cavalry FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the rivalries were considered secondary, as Cavalry would view their rivalries with FC Edmonton and Forge FC as being more important, while the Whitecaps played in a different league (MLS) completely. However, this would change following the foundation of Vancouver FC, a Canadian Premier League expansion team that started play in 2023.^[5]

The idea of a British Columbia derby or rivalry was quickly adopted by the league and supporters' groups of both clubs.^[6] In addition to their geographic proximity, the pair of clubs drew attention for sharing the same ownership group.^[7] The first player to sign with Vancouver FC was Callum Irving who had been the starting goalkeeper for Pacific for the past three seasons.^[4]

In an attempt to further instigate the rivalry, the league scheduled Pacific FC and Vancouver FC to play their first match of the regular season against each other. Since Vancouver FC was an expansion team in their inaugural season, this match was also their first ever match as a team, excluding preseason friendlies. Pacific FC would win the first match of the rivalry 1–0 in front of 4,825 spectators at Starlight Stadium. The winning goal was scored by Manny Aparicio in the eighty-first minute, which was quickly followed by a provocative celebration in front of the traveling supporters' section.^[8]

As the season progressed, Pacific FC would stay near the top of the table, while Vancouver quickly fell into last place, having won only one league match in their first seven games. Pacific FC triumphed again in their second league game against Vancouver with a 6–3 away win. Vancouver FC's first win against Pacific occurred in their third meeting of the regular season. Despite Pacific being up 2–1 late in the game, Gabriel Bitar scored two late goals for Vancouver in the last fourteen minutes, including an 87th minute winner to give Vancouver a 3–2 victory.^[9] A second win for Vancouver followed as they closed out their first season strongly, bringing the series to a tie with two wins apiece at the end of 2023.^[10]

Both teams started the 2024 season strongly, although the prolonged tussle for second place did not prevent Vancouver from notching up another two victories to take the lead in the series.^[11][12] As both teams faded in the latter half of the season, the fight became one to stay in playoffs contention, with Vancouver securing yet another narrow win at home to bring their series winning streak to five games,^[13] a run that was ended by a strong 3–0 Pacific victory at home in the last derby match of the season, a result that helped them pip Vancouver to the final playoffs spot.^[14]

As of May 7, 2025